Money raised the sale of the calendars will go to the clubs involved and the Balls To Cancer charity in Great Britain.

‘Turning up to each club was a challenge as we didn’t know who the players would be, or how comfortable they’d be when we asked them to strip and get up close to pose with each other,’ said photographer Monty McKinnen.

Manchester Village Spartans

‘It turned out in the end they didn’t need much encouragement to derobe. In fact at one club we turned around to find them all stood there naked on the pitch before I’d even got the camera out!

‘I hope this calendar empowers guys to check their packages more often and to feel comfortable talking about male cancers.’

What is testicular cancer?

Testicular cancer primarily affects younger men and is the most common form of cancer in men aged between 15 and 49. However, it remains a comparatively rare cancer, with around 2,200 news cases being diagnosed each year in the UK.

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That said, since 1975, the incidence of testicular cancer has more than doubled – and the reasons for this are not yet known. Fortunately, treatment is usually very effective, and testicular cancer is 97% curable. That figure rises to 99% if it’s caught in its early stages.

Northampton Outlaws

Testicular cancer usually presents itself as a lump in one of your testicles. Regular self-examination can help to detect this cancer at an early stage. When examining your balls, check for the following signs:

A lump in either testicle

Any enlargement of the testicle

A feeling of heaviness in the scrotum

A dull ache in the abdomen or groin

A sudden collection of fluid in the scrotum

Growth or tenderness of the upper chest

If the cancer is not treated at an early stage, cancer cells can break away and spread to nearby lymph nodes or other organs.

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If a lump or change in the testicles is identified, a doctor will arrange for a diagnostic test to indicate if the lump is benign or a possible cancerous tumor.

Please bear in mind that most lumps are not cancerous but it is important to get yourself checked out by your doctor to be sure.